9 hours Ago By Lisa Schencker
Public health officials confirmed the first two cases of measles in Cook County this year on Wednesday – as the illness continues to spread across the country. One case is in a suburban Cook County resident whose vaccination status is unknown. The other case is a Chicago resident who traveled internationally in early April, who previously had one dose of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, according to a news release from the Cook County, Chicago and Illinois departments of public health.
The suburban Cook County resident went to a hospital for medical care on Monday and was quickly isolated, according to health officials. The Chicago resident developed a rash April 25 and has been isolating at home since being diagnosed. Health officials are warning that people who were at the following locations on the following dates may have been exposed: April 21: Chicago Public Library – Independence Branch, 4024 N.
Elston Ave. April 21: Fittingly Delicious, 3939 W. Irving Park Road April 22: O’Hare Airport, 10 a.
m. to 8 p.m.
, especially in Terminal 1 April 23: O’Hare Airport, 10 a.m. to 8 p.
m., especially in Terminal 1 April 25: Aldi, 7235 39th St., Lyons, from 10 a.
m. to 12:30 p.m.
April 27: Shell, 3901 S. Harlem Ave., Stickney, from 10 a.
m. to 12:30 p.m.
April 28: Mobil: 2945 S. Harlem Ave., Berwyn, from 10:20 a.
m. to 1 p.m.
People who may have been exposed should notify their health care providers if they are unsure about their vaccination status. If they develop symptoms they should talk to their health care providers or a health care facility before going to a medical office or emergency department. Two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine are considered 97% protective against the measles, and one dose is considered 93% protective.
Children typically receive the first dose of the vaccine, or the similar measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (chickenpox) vaccine at age 12 to 15 months, and the second dose from ages 4 to 6. The Cook County cases follow the first case of measles this year in Illinois in an unvaccinated adult in Marion, reported last week. As of April 24, there had been 884 confirmed measles cases across the country, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
More to come..
